Railroad-tie and rail-grip.



j. E. LANGFORU.

RAILROAD TIE AND RAIL GRIP.

APPLICATIOM mm mmf s, m16.

Patented May 29, 191?.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

J. LANGFDRD.- RAILROAD ne Am) nmLemP. APPLICATION FLE-D JUNE 3 I 9l6. y 193793@ l Patented, May 29,1191? z SHEETSAHEET 2.

l a car passing over the rails.

' i M E. LANG-FORD, 0F SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

LEGNO-TIE BAL-GBIE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented May 29), 1191"?.

Application ledJune 3, 1916. Serial No. 101,469.

To all whom z't'may concermi Be it known that l, JEREMIAH E. LANG- FORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented a new and useful Railroad-Tie and Rail- Grip, of which the following is a specification.

`My invention relates particularly to ties adapted t0 be used in railroads and provided with means for securing the rails out the necessity of applying any railway spikes.

A further object of my invention is to provide a metallic railway tie which is so arranged as to effectively insulate the two rails from each other so as to avoid any interference with signaling devices which are dependent upon the closing of an elec tric circuit between the two rails as, for example, through the wheels and axles of A 'further object of my invention is to provide a construction of this kind in which the portions of the tie subjected to the greatest stress are made exceptionally strong so as to adequately supportthe rails and the loads carried by the same. This form of construction enables the remainder of the tie to be made without the presence ofV an excessive amount of metal in the bodyV of the tie.

A further object of my invention is toI provide a construction in which' the two ends of the 'tie are insulated from each other so that the electrical connections at the two ends of the tie may be independent of each other. -This permits, if desired, the omission of any insulation between 'the rail and the tie under certain conditions. Another object of my invention is to provide a rail-tie, the two ends of which are fiexibly connected to each other so that one end of 'the tie may give without adecting the ystability or rigidity of the other end of the tie.

A further object of mv invention is to provide a railroad tie of this kind which is exceedingly simple and which is, nevertheless, very strong in construction.

While my invention is ca able of embodiment in many dierent orms, for the purpose of illustration I have shown only one form thereof in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a railroad constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a rail and gripping means partly in section;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the gripping means; l

Fig. 5 is a cross-section of a tie with the rail in place;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sec'tion taken through the central joint-between the two ends of the tie; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. Ll, but showing a solid plate. and not carrying insulation for securing the rail in the tie.

ln the drawings, I have shown a railroad tie 1, comprising two halves l and l, each of which 1s inthe shape of a channel bar. That is to say, each comprises a base 2 and two lateral, upwardly directed flanges 3. The half ixl is provided at its inner end with a double bar 3, which may be attached at its ends to the half 15t by means of spot, welding or any other suitable manner. The double bar 3 has an opening 3" through which passes an insulating sleeve 3c, which receives a bolt 3d for securing the bar 3l2 to two bars 3e attached to the halt l" by spot welding or in any other suitable manner. On the inside and outside ot each ot the bars 3 there are provided insulating washers 3f. The base 2 is preferably provided with an opening 4 to properly anchor the tie to the roadbcd. In the case of earth or gravel roadbeds, the earth or gravel passing through the openings 4 and resting upon the top of the base 2 will el'ectivel anchor the tie inuplace. Furthermore, the narrow width of th'e tie at the center will enable the earth or gravel surrounding the tie to prevent longitudinal movement of the tie. Where th'c tie is used upon treaties or bridges. and where the tie is to bc attached to longitlli ,Said openings lil at their tudinal stringers, spikes or bolts may be passed through the opening l to attach the tie to the same. The flanges 3 have beveled ends 5 to prevent injury to workmen when laying or repairing the railroad. .is shown in Fig. 2 the tie 1 is arranged to support a plurality of rails 6 of the usual form in cross-section- Each of these rails G is supported in a pair of inner grip plates 7 so arranged as to leave openings S between the grip plates 7 andthe edges of the rail, so as to produce a wedging grip upon the base of the rail, when it is plated in position in the" manner hereinafter described. rthe inner grip plates 'T rest against plates or strips 9 of fiber or other electrically insulating material, and the strips or, plates 9 in tu'rn rest within outer grip plates 10. The outer grip plates 10 are tapered so as to be thinner at one end than the other, so that they may act as wedges when heilig inserted in the ties to hold the rails in place. Preferably the grip plates 7 and 1t) and the insulating plates or strips 9 are cemented together with any suitable cement. If desired also the grip plates 7 and 10, and the insulating plates or strips 9 may be connected togtether by insulating liber rivets l1.l lf desired, instead of the inner and outer grip plates 7 and lt) and the' insulating` strips S),tl,iete may be provided solid tapered" `grip plates l2 as, shown in lf`ig. 7. The lateral flanges 25 on the ties have recesses or openings 3 provided therein to receive the rails t3 and thc grip plates.

' uppermost portions are substantially the width of the bases of the rails to bc supported by the ties. Below the upper parts of these openings 18, however, the openings are widened in such a manner to receive the grip plates 7 and 10. Between the lateral flanges 3, and at either side of the openings 13, l provide a reinforcing plate 1st., which is comprised of two laterally directedl wings 14., which tit against flanges 53 to which they may be secured by welding orin any. other suitable manner and a cross web 1l con/necting the laterally directed wings 1l" together. The wings of the reinforcing plates 14 may extend along the [langes 3 to any desired length. rthese reinforcing plates have the effect of strengthening and stitleninglthe tie at the points where the stress greatest, that is to say, immediately beneath the rails which are supported by the| tiet The openings 13 are, of course, made in such a way that the openings in one of the flanges 3 are a little wider than the openings in the other tiange 3 in order to accommodate the tapering outer grip plates 10.

llailroads may be constructed primarily with ties of this character or paired by replacing other forms of ties with ties of this kind. Assun'iing that the railroad is being built with ties of this kind, the

they may be ret ties are placed at the proper intervals along the roadbed. The two halves l"L and ll of the. ties are connected together by inserting bolts 3d through the double bar 3 and the two bars dC in such a manner that the insulating sleeves 3 surround the'bolts 3 and the insulating washers 3f remove said bolt from contact with the bars 311 and 3, and therails arc-then dropped into place in the openings 13.y rl`he inner grip plates T and outer grip plates 10 and interposed strips of insulating material t) which have been previously preferably attached together by means of cement insulating material, or liber ri vets, are now applied to theA rails by insere tion thereof between the edges of the bases .of the rails and the wider portions of the recesses or openings 13, the thinner ends of the outer grip plates 1() being inserted lirst and the composite grip driven in place until the wedging action of the grip plates on the bases of the rails tightly clamps the rails in place. Instead of using the grip plates comprised of the inner and outer plates 7 and l0. and the interposed insulating plates 9 the solid gripping plates 1Q may be used. rl`he reinforcing plates 1l adequately support the rails and the loads carried by the same, inasmuch as they surround the edges ot' the rail bases `which rest upon the ties, andas they reinforce the tie not only vertically and laterally along the flanges of the tie, butalso longit'tidinally of the rail and vertically in a direction longitudinal of the rail by means of the webs 11 c passing under the same. lf the railroad is being laid along the ground or upon gravel, the roadbed is nowA filled with the earth or gravel up to the required level, and the ties are now securely held in place by this means. lf on the other hand, the railroad is being laid along a trestle or on a bridge, fastening means may be applied through theopenings l to securely hold the ties in place. rl`he insulating sleeve El" and the insulating washers 3l will eltectively insulate the two rails from each other. The two rail's i3 will therefore be insulated from each other and signaling systems involving the completion of a circuit between the rails when the train passes, will not be interfered with. The fact that the two ends 1tl and l" of the tie are pivoted together permits either end of the tie..to give without affecting the rigidity or stability of the other end of the tie.

While I have described my invention above, in detail, lr wish it to be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention. For example, wherever I have shown rivets spot welding may be used for connecting the parts together instead.

1. The combination of a channel shaped plates being then liv CAD

tudinally of the rail.

railroad tie having recesses in itsv sides tov receive a rail, with a reinforcing member conforming t6 the recesses and extending between the latter, said member being per manently fixed to the tie.

2. In combination, a railroad tie having a recess to receive a rail and a reinforcing the contour of said recess.

3. In combination, a railroad tie having a recess to receive a rail, a taperingclamping means Aat the side of the rail, and a reinforcing means located at said recess, and extending longitudinally of the iail.

LI. In combination, a railroad tie having a recess to receive a rail, a tapering clamping means at the side of the rail, and a reinforcing means located at said'recess, and following the contour of said recess.

5. In combination,4 a railroad tie having a recess to. receive a rail, a tapering clamping means at the side of the rail, comprising an inner and outer plate, and a reinforcing means located at said recess, and extending longitudinally of the rail.

6. In combination, a railroad tie having a recess to receive a rail, a tapering clamping means at the side of the rail, comprising an inner and outer plate, and a reinforcing means located at said recess, and following the contour of said recess.

7. In combination, a railroad tie having a recess to receive arail, a tapering clamping means at the side of the rail, comprising an inner and outer plate separated by aninsulating plate,- and a reinforcing means located at said recess, and extending longi- 8. In combination, a railroad tie having a recess to receive a rail, a tapering clamping means at the side of the rail, comprising an inner and outer plate separated by an insulating plate, and a reinforcing means lpcated at said recess, and following the contour of said recess. 9. The 4combination of a channel shaped' v railroad tie having recesses in its sides .to

receive a rail, with reinforcing members ,iomprising complementary plates shaped to onfo'rin to the recesses, and to extend 'between the same. l

l0. In combination, a U-shaped railroad tie having `a\recess to receive a rail and'` a reinforcing means located at said recess, and following the contour of said recess.

1l. -In combination, a U-shaped railroad tie havinga recess to receive a raib, a tapei`- ing clamping means at the side of the rail, arida reinforcing means located at said rc- ,.ss, and extending longitudinally of the rail.

12. In combination, a U-shaped railroad tie having a recess to receive a rail, a tapering clamping means at the side of tl-ie rail, and :n reinforcing means located at said rereinforcing' means located cess, said reinforcing means cess, and following the contour of said recess.

13. In combination, a U-sliaped railroad tie having a recess to receive a rail, a taperw ing clamping means at the side of the rail, comprising an inner and an outer plate, and

fa reinforcing means located at said recess, means located at said recess, and following/ and extending longitudinally of the rail.

14..In combination, a U-shaped railroad l tie having a recess to receive a rail, a tapering clamping means at the side of the rail, comprising an linner and an outer plate, and

a reinforcing means located at said recess,

Iing clamping means at the side of the rail,

comprising an inner and an outer plate separated by an insulating plate, and areinforcing means located at said recess, and following the contour of said recess.

17. In combination, a U-sliaped railroad tie having a recess to receive a rail and a at said recess, said reinforcing means comprising wings permanently attached to the [langes 4of the tie and a cross web connecting the Wings.

18. In combination, a U-shaped railroad tie having a recess to receive a rail and a reinforcing means located at said recess, and

'following the contour of said recess, said reinforcing means comprising wings at tached to the flanges of the tie and a cross web connecting the wings.

19. In combination, a U-sliaped railroad tie having a recess to receive a rail, a tapeiing clamping means at tiff sidev of the rail, and a reinforcing means located' at'said recess, said reinforcing means comprising wings attached to the flanges of the tic and a cross web connecting the wings.

20. In combination, a U-sliaped railroad tie having a recess to receive a rail, a tapering clamping means at the side of the rail, and a reinforcing means located at said recess, and following the contour of said recomprising wings attachedto the flanges of the tic and a cross web connecting the wings.

2l.. In combination, a U-shaped railroad tie having a recess to receive a rail, a tapering clamping means at the side of the rail, comprising an inner and an outer plate, and

a' reinforcing means located at` said recess,

22. In combination, a U-shaped railroad tie having a recess to receive a rail, a tapering clamping means at the side oi the rail,4

comprising an inner and au outer plate, and a reinforcing means located at said recess, and following the contour ol' said recess, said reinl'orcing means comprising wings attached to the llanges ol' the tie and a cross web connecting the wings.

221. ln combination. a U-shaped railroad tie having a recess to receive a rail, a tapcring clamping means at the side ol' the rail. comprising an inner and an outer plate .separated bhv an insulating plate, and a reinl'orcing means located at said recess, said reinforcing means coluprising wings attached to the llanges ol' the tie and a cross web connecting the wings.

2l. In combination, a U-shaped railroad tie having a recess to receive a rail. a tapering clamping means at the side of the rail, comprising an inner and au outer plate separated by an insulating plate, and a reinforcing means located at said recess, and following the contour of said recess, said reinforcing means comprising wings attached to the llanges of the tie and a cross web connecting the wings.

Q5. In combination, a railroad tiey having a recess to receive a rail and tapering clamping means at theI side ot the rail` comln'ising an inne and an outer plate separated by an insulating` plate, said plates being` united with liber rivets.

2G. In combination, a railroad tie having a recess to receive a rail. and clamping means at the side ot' the rail, comprising an inner and an outer plate separated by an insulating plate, said plates being united with liber rivets.

Q7. A railroad tie comprising two halves, each ol which is adapted to carry a rail, said halves being insulated l'rom eachother.

28. A railroad tie comprising two pivoted halves, ach ot which is adapted to carry a rail, said halves being insulated from cach other. f

QS). A railroad tie comprising two halves, each olI which is adapted to carry a rail, said halves being insulated l'roni each other by means of au insulating boltl connecting said halves.

30. A railroad tie comprising two pivoted halves, each ol which is adapted to carry a rail, said halves being insulated lrom each other by means ot' an insulating bolt connecting said halves.

3l. A railroad tie comprising two halves,

each of which is adapted to carry a rail,

said halves being insulated l'rom arch other by means 0l an' insulatingbolt connectingl said halves. and supporting said halves` by interposed washers and an insulating sleeve.

2K2. A\ railroad tie comprising two pivoted halves. each ol' which is adapted t0 carry a rail` said halves beingl insulated from each other by means ol an insulatingr bolt connectiug said halves, and supporting said halves buv interposed washers and an insulating sleeve.

:323. railroad tie comprising two halves, each ol' which is adapted to carry a rail, each hall.I having at its inner end bars bent toward each other. said halves being insulated l'rom each other.

Il l. railroad tie comprising two pivoted hal\es, cach ol' which is adapted to 'arry a rail. each haltl having at its inner end bars bent toward each other, said halves being insulated `l'rom each other.

I`. A railroad tie comprisingr two halve 4 each of which is adapted to carry a rail, cach hall,E having at its inner end bars bein toward each other,` said halves being'insnlated Yl'rom each other, b v means ot' an insulating bolt connecting saidhalves.

t. .t railroad tic comprising two pivoted halves, each of which is adapted to carry a 'ail, each hall having at its inner end bars bent toward each other, said halves being insulated l'rom each other by means ot' an insulating bolt connecting said halves.

Iii'. railroad tie comprising two halves. each ot which is adapted to carry a rail. each hall' having at its inner end bars bent toward `ach other, said halves being insulated from each other by means of an insulating bolt connecting said halves, and supporting said halves b v interposed washers and anl insulating sleeve.

238. A railroad tie comprising two pivoted halves. each ol which is adapted to carry a rail, each hall having at its inner end bars bent toward each other, said halves heilig insulated from each other by means ol' an insulating bolt connecting said halves. and supporting said halves by interposed washersl and an insulating sleeve.

530. 'l`he combination otI a channel shaped railroad tie having recesses in its sides to receive a rail, with reinforcing members` comprising complementary plates, each having a flange shaped to surround a portion oll \ach recess` and a web uniting the flanges.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing' I have hereunto set my hand. 

